Carrying device for containers



Oct. 15, 1957 J. E. SOCKE CARRYING DEVICE FOR-CONTAINERS Filed Nov. 9, 1955 INVENTOR.

JOHN E. SOCKE ATTORNEYS r 2,809,861 CARRYING DEVICE non commas John E. Socke, Pelham Manor, N. Y., assignor to American Can Company,-New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Y Application November 9, 1955, SerialNo. 545,827

1 Claim. 01. 29487.2)

The present invention relates generally to devices for carrying a plurality of containers and the like in a j xtaposed relation as a unitary package and has particular reference to a composite carrying device having a flexible twine tie member for holding the containers together and a sheet material handle for carrying them.

An object of the instant invention is the provision of an inexpensive carrying device which can be economically produced and readily attached to a plurality of containers and which provides a substantial handle for carrying them.

Another object is the provision of such a carrying device which is self-tightening on the containers when under load. Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a pair of juxtaposed containers tied together with a carrying device embodying the instant invention; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the carrying device shown in Fig. 1.

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the instant invention the drawings illustrate a composite carryingdevice A (Figs. 1 and 2) for carrying a pair of fibre milk containers B disposed in juxtaposed relation as a unitary package. The containers B preferably are of the charac- .ter disclosed in United States Patent 2,085,979 issued .July 6, 1937, to John M. Hothersall on Container.

Such containers comprise rectangular bodies D having :flat side walls E which at their upper ends are formed with necked-in portions F and outwardly or laterally projecting peripheral end seams or ledges G surrounding and securing a fiat top closure member H in place on the body. In the juxtaposed relation of the containers B, two side walls E are directly opposite each other in substantially contiguous relation as shown in Fig. 1. The sections of the ledges G for these side walls extend transversely of the package and are substantially coincident. The immediately connecting sections of the ledges G, disposed at right angles to the ends of the transverse sections of the ledges, extend along the two long outer edges of the package in continuing or endwise alignment and are termed the outer longitudinally aligned ledges.

The composite carrying device A comprises in part a flexible wire-like endless frame or tie member 11 (Fig. 2) which preferably is made from a single continuous piece of heavy cord or twine or wire arranged to enclose or define two juxtaposed rectangular loops 12, 13 having a double thickness (i. e. two separate contiguous pieces of twine) common dividing or cross member 14. Each loop 12, 13 is proportioned to encircle one container B at a location'immediately under the projecting ledges G. The twine from each loop extends into the adjacent loop, in opposite directions, along the cross member 14, the terrninal ends of the twine preferably being located in one of 7 f2 the loops and being secured ner, preferably by being tied in a knot 15 to endless frame 11. j

More specifically, the loop 12 comprises an end member 17, two side members 18, 19 and a frame dividing or cross member 20. Thecross member 20 extends from the side produce the member 19 in a direction toward the left as viewed in Fig.

2 and at its terminal end adjacent the sidemember 18, it crosses over and extends into the loop 13, merging into a sidemember 22 of the loop 13. In a manner similar to loop 12, the loop 13 is also. provided with an end member 23, a continuing side member 24 which is opposite, the side member 22, and a continuing cross member 25 which extends adjacent andalong the cross member 20 of loop 12;

in contiguous relation therewith and crosses over to join with and continue as the side member 18 in loop 12.

Hence by pulling upwardly on the two contiguous elements 20,25 of the cross member 14 simultaneously, the. elements 20, 25 are caused to slide or slip along each other and thus tighten or reduce the size of the loops 12, 13. When applied to the juxtaposed containers B, the loops 12, 13 completely encircle or surround the containers individually in the necked-in portions F of the containers and are disposed directly under the projecting ledges G, the common double thickness cross member 14 being disposed between the two containers and engaging under the transverse portions of the ledges G. The twine frame 11 thus ties the two juxtaposed containers together.

For carrying the unitary package produced by tieing the containers together, a sheet material handle 27 is provided. This handle 27 preferably is made from a substantially rectangular blank of fibre material but can be made of plastic, metal or any other suitable material as desired. In the preferred form of the handle, as shown in Fig. 2, the fibre blank is positioned under the common cross member 14 of the twine frame 11 and is folded upwardly around the cross member to produce a U-shaped double thickness or layer handle.

Above the cross member 14, the layers of the handle preferably are secured together with a suitable adhesive, leaving the two twine elements 20, 25 of the frame loose in the loop or eye of the handle to facilitate relative sliding movement to tighten the loops 12, 13 as mentioned above. This formation of the handle 27 produces along its bottom or folded edge, an elongated eye 28 (Fig. 2) through which the cross mmeber 14 is threaded and which in itself provides a pair of laterally projecting, oppositely disposed shoulders or support members 29, 30. The handle 27 preferably is formed with a hand or finger opening 31 for carrying purposes.

When the carrying device A is applied to the juxtaposed containers B as mentioned above, the laterally projecting support members 29, 30 of the handle 27 are disposed between the containers, in the necked-in portions F and engage under the transverse ledges G (Fig. 1) to support the containers by these ledge portions and thus supplement the support of the containers by the flexible frame 11. In this position the handle 27 extends upwardly above the tops of the containers as shown in Fig. l where it can be readily gripped for carrying the containers. When the containers are lifted by the handle, the elements 20, 25 of the common cross member of frame 11 slide relative to each other to draw the loops 12, 13 tight around the containers. This movement is slight and does not interfere with the supporting of the containers at their upper ends by the handle protuberances 29, 30, thus suspending the containers with a toggle action'which draws their lower ends together in closely abutting relation as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be.

, Pat nted Oct. 15,1951

together in any suitable man formvv hereinbefore described. being, rnerely: apreierred em? bodimentfthereotl, r

I claim: t

, A. carrying device. for, drawing together. in. side by side relationand transporting. a pair ofi juxtaposed rectangular. containers, each having; laterally projecting peripheral ledges attheii; top ends, comprisingasingle cord-like. strand of: flexible matreialfor enclosing the upper, container ends beneathsaid ledges and for extending, entirely around each of, said? containers and secured, together soflthat adjacent strand portions disposedv beneath contiguous, container eldg'e, portions are of, double thickness, andaflat, upstand i'ng apertured. handle of, double. thickness, insertable. between theupper endsoi saidcontainersth ellower endtof said! handle, Being, folded closely around the intermediate d'ouble thickness-portion. of saidflexihlefstrand; to form.

longitudinally, aligned' oppositely and laterally projecting support shoulders on the lower, handle end, for respectively; engaging. beneath the contiguous, ledge portions of 4 v 7 said juxtaposed containers to cooperate with said flexible strand fb'r'su'pporting said containers by their upper ends with a toggle action.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 D. 162,515 Burge Mar. 20, 1951 1,063,738 Rul'a-nd June 3, 1913 1,446,278 Swenson Feb. 20,. 1923 1,551,886 Iensen.- Sept. 1, 1925 1,632,952 Daughs June 21', 1927 2,505,883 Chevalier May 2, 1950 2,680,039" Burge' Inne 1, 1954 EQRE-I GN PATENTS 116,132 Australia Nev. 10, 1942 0 bleday & Co.,..Inc,., Garden City, N. Y., 1946.

OTHER REFERENCES 

